Portable digital media player case

ABSTRACT

A case for a portable digital media player includes a front surface having at least one viewing window, a rear surface opposite the front surface, side surfaces and top and bottom surfaces. A projection protrudes from one of the surfaces, such as the rear surface, to define a region between the projection and the one surface for receiving a cord. The projection is shaped and sufficiently soft and flexible to at least partially close the region and collapse onto the one surface under application of pressure applied to the projection. Pressure applied to the projection when being held by a user, being placed into a confined space or being placed on a surface with the projection facing down, is sufficient to at least partially close the region and collapse the projection onto the one surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a case for a portable digital media player,such as an Apple iPod.

2. Description of the Related Art

Ever since the introduction of the first generation iPod portabledigital media player into the marketplace, accessories of many typeshave been developed. Among those accessories are cases which protect theiPod from shock and make it easier to grip.

One such case produced by Marware is formed of neoprene and has a largeopening for the display screen and click wheel and a flip-top. Anotherneoprene case produced by Incase has separate openings for the displayscreen and click wheel and a zipper closure. Neoprene fits looselyaround the iPod and does not follow the contour thereof.

A case which is manufactured by Speck is formed of KRATON® and has adimpled exterior and an opening for various ports on the iPod. Siliconerubber cases made by iSkin, Xtreme Mac and Elecom fit tightly over theiPod and have separate openings for the display screen and the clickwheel. The Elecom case has a region at the side for winding an earbudheadphone cord.

None of the prior art cases provides a winding region for the earbudheadphone cord which is soft, does not substantially enlarge thedimensions of the case and which is unobtrusive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a portabledigital media player case, which overcomes the above-mentioneddisadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type andwhich provides a storage location for an earbud headphone cord which isunobtrusive for the user.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, inaccordance with the invention, a case for a portable digital mediaplayer. The case comprises a front surface having at least one viewingwindow, a rear surface opposite the front surface, side surfaces and topand bottom surfaces. A projection protrudes from one of the surfaces todefine a region between the projection and the one surface for receivinga cord. The projection is shaped and sufficiently soft and flexible toat least partially close the region and collapse onto the one surfaceunder application of pressure applied to the projection. This makes theprojection unobtrusive to a user.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, pressure applied tothe projection when being held by a user, being placed into a confinedspace or being placed on a surface with the projection facing down, issufficient to at least partially close the region and collapse theprojection onto the one surface. Thus, the projection almost disappearswhen under sufficient pressure as is normally applied under use or whenplaced in the user's pocket.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the surfaces andthe projection are formed of silicone rubber. This material issufficiently soft and flexible to collapse at the winding region.

In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the projectionpreferably protrudes from the rear surface, but a side projection isalso contemplated. Both locations prevent the winding region frominterfering with operation of the device. In accordance with anadditional feature of the invention, a pedestal connects the projectionto the rear surface. Not only the surfaces, but the pedestal and theprojection as well are formed of silicone rubber.

In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the projectionhas a substantially flat outer surface parallel to the rear surface andtapered outer edges. These features permit the projection to almostcompletely disappear when in normal use.

In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention, theprojection has a slot formed therein for retaining the cord. Thisprevents the cord from unraveling.

In accordance with yet an added feature of the invention, the surfaceshave openings formed therein for accessing ports of the portable digitalmedia player. In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention,the at least one viewing window in the front surface includes a cutoutand a translucent region. Thus, all of the features of the media playercan be accessed.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the inventionare set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodiedin a portable digital media player case, it is nevertheless not intendedto be limited to the details shown, since various modifications andstructural changes may be made therein without departing from the spiritof the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of theclaims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however,together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be bestunderstood from the following description of the specific embodimentwhen read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, front-elevational view of a portable digitalmedia player case according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top-plan view of the case of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom-plan view of the case according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side-elevational view of the case of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a rear-elevational view of the case of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing storage for earbudheadphones;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the storage for the earbudheadphones; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the storage for the earbudheadphones.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first,particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a case 1 for a portabledigital media player, such as an Apple iPod. The case 1 is formed ofsilicone rubber, which be any color and has a front panel 2 in which awindow 3 for a display screen and a window 4 for a selector such as aclick wheel are provided. Although the window 3 is a cutout in the casefor viewing the display screen, the window 4 is made translucent whichis accomplished by making the silicone rubber thinner in the region ofthe window 4 to allow operation of the click wheel.

As is seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the case 1 has an upper surface 5 and alower surface 6. A side surface 7 of the case is shown in FIG. 4 and arear surface 8 of the case is shown in FIG. 5. A projection 9 protrudesoutwardly from the rear surface 8. The projection 9 has tapered edgesand a flat outer surface 10 which is parallel to, but has a smaller areathan, the rear surface 8. The projection 9 is connected to the rearsurface 8 by a pedestal 11 which smaller than the projection 9, so thatthe projection 9 extends beyond the pedestal 11 on all four sides,defining a winding region 12. The projection could also protrude from adifferent surface, such as one of the side surfaces.

It may also be seen in FIG. 2 that the upper surface 5 has an opening 13for a headphone port which allows a jack for earbud headphones to beplugged-in. The upper surface 5 also and a slot 14 for operation of ahold switch. FIG. 3 shows a slot 15 for use of a dock connector port.Other generations of the iPod have different port and switch locationsand the case 1 is configured to correspond to those configurations.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 also show earbud headphones 20 having a plug 21inserted through the opening 13 and earbuds 22 for placement in the earsof a user of the portable digital media player. It is also seen fromthese figures that a cord 23 for the earbud headphones 20 is wound inthe winding region 12. Thus, when not is use, the earbud headphones 20are wound around the pedestal 11 and between the projection 9 and therear surface 8 of the case 1. The projection 9 may optionally have oneor more slots 24 for retaining the cord and preventing the earbudheadphones 20 from being unwound when not in use.

Since the projection 9 and the pedestal 11 are formed of silicone rubberwhich is extremely soft and flexible and the projection is flat andtapered, any pressure on the projection causes it and the pedestal to atleast partially collapse and close the winding region 12. The windingregion closes completely and flatly against the rear surface 8 if undersufficient pressure when the cord 23 is not wound in the winding region.The winding region also closes completely and almost flatly over thecord if under sufficient pressure when the cord is wound in the windingregion. The tapered surfaces merge with the rear surface, so that theentire projection becomes unobtrusive to the user. Simply holding thecase in the user's hand or placing it in a confined space such as theuser's pocket, supplies sufficient pressure to collapse the projection9, to at least partially collapse the pedestal 11 and to close thewinding region 12 at the edges of the projection 12. Even placing theprojection on a surface with an iPod in the case partly collapses thewinding region. Thus, the case with the storage location defined by theprojection 9 and the pedestal 11 is no more cumbersome than a casewithout a storage location.

1. A case for a portable digital media player, the case comprising: afront surface having at least one viewing window; a rear surfaceopposite said front surface; side surfaces; top and bottom surfaces; anda projection protruding from one of said surfaces to define a regionbetween said projection and said one surface for receiving a cord; saidprojection being shaped and sufficiently soft and flexible to at leastpartially close said region and collapse onto said one surface underapplication of pressure applied to said projection.
 2. The caseaccording to claim 1, wherein pressure applied to said projection whenbeing held by a user, being placed into a confined space or being placedon a surface with said projection facing down, is sufficient to at leastpartially close said region and collapse said projection onto said onesurface.
 3. The case according to claim 1, wherein said surfaces andsaid projection are formed of silicone rubber.
 4. The case according toclaim 1, wherein said projection protrudes from said rear surface. 5.The case according to claim 4, which further comprises a pedestalconnecting said projection to said rear surface.
 6. The case accordingto claim 4, wherein said surfaces, said pedestal and said projection areformed of silicone rubber.
 7. The case according to claim 6, whereinsaid projection has a substantially flat outer surface parallel to saidrear surface.
 8. The case according to claim 7, wherein said projectionhas tapered outer edges.
 9. The case according to claim 1, wherein saidprojection has a slot formed therein for retaining the cord.
 10. Thecase according to claim 1, wherein said surfaces have openings formedtherein for accessing ports of the portable digital media player. 11.The case according to claim 1, wherein said at least one viewing windowin said front surface includes a cutout and a translucent region.